Emergency Awareness

EMERGENCY aWaRENESS How to Respond in time for a

Natural Disaster .........

• Preparation Lists • Contacts • Plus More!

2011 Emergency Awareness

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EMERGENCY NUMBERS BRYAN

BTU 24-HR Outage/ Emergency Hotline (979) 822-3777 Fire Services Station #1 (979) 209-5975 Station #2 (979) 209-5580 Station #3 (979) 209-5584 Station #4 (979) 209-5588 Police Services Emergency 911 Non-Emergency Dispatch (979) 361-3888

COLLEGE STATION

College Station Utilities (979) 764-3535 Fire Services (979) 764-3705 Police Services Emergency 911 Non-Emergency Dispatch (979) 764-3600

BRAZOS COUNTY Sheriff’s Office Emergency 911 Non-Emergency Dispatch (979) 361-4100 Constable Offices Precinct 1 (979) 695-0030 Precinct 2 (979) 361-4477 Precinct 3 (979) 694-7900 Precinct 4 (979) 361-4266 Jim Wilson

Brazos County Health Department (979) 361-4440

United Way Texas 2-1-1 211

Brazos Valley Community EOC Call Center (979) 821-1000

Red Cross Brazos Valley Branch (979) 776-8279

table of contents

Publisher

Joanne R. Patranella Display Advertising Manager

Jim Bob Mcknown

Creative Services Manager Special Projects Coordinator Marketing Consultant

Jenny Dohmen Internet Sales

Billy Mau

Special Projects Editor

Ashley Jackson Graphic Artist

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Thunderstorms and lightening pg 13

Family Preparedness pg 8

Dawn Goodall Jill Borowiec

Tornadoes pg 12

animal Preparedness pg 8

2-1-1

211 Your Number For information local Resource pg 9 What is a Hurricane pg 10 Fire pg 11

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Flood pg 14

CAUTION

Hazardous Materials pg 16 Distaster Facts pg 17 livestock pg 15

2011 Emergency Awareness

It’s important to be prepared!

Safety Tips

Texas Engineering Extension Service • 301 Tarrow • College Station, TX 77840 C11.5324.07

2011 Emergency Awareness

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Your Family Emergency Plan Make sure your family has a plan in case of an emergency. Before an emergency happens, sit down together and decide how you will get in contact with each other, where you will go and what you will do in an emergency. Keep a copy of this plan in your emergency supply kit or another safe place where you can access it in the event of a disaster.

Out-of-Town Contact Name: Email: Neighborhood Meeting Place: Regional Meeting Place: Evacuation Location:

Telephone Number: Telephone Number: Telephone Number: Telephone Number:

Fill out the following information for each family member and keep it up to date.

Name: Date of Name: Date of Name: Date of Name: Date of Name: Date of Name: Date of

Social Security Number: Important Medical Information: Social Security Number: Important Medical Information: Social Security Number: Important Medical Information: Social Security Number: Important Medical Information: Social Security Number: Important Medical Information: Social Security Number: Important Medical Information:

Birth: Birth: Birth: Birth: Birth: Birth:

Write down where your family spends the most time: work, school and other places you frequent. Schools, daycare providers, workplaces and apartment buildings should all have site-specific emergency plans that you and your family need to know about.

Work Location One Address: Phone Number: Evacuation Location: Work Location Two Address: Phone Number: Evacuation Location: Work Location Three Address: Phone Number: Evacuation Location: Other place you frequent Address: Phone Number: Evacuation Location:

School Location One Address: Phone Number: Evacuation Location: School Location Two Address: Phone Number: Evacuation Location: School Location Three Address: Phone Number: Evacuation Location: Other place you frequent Address: Phone Number: Evacuation Location:

Dial 911 for Emergencies!

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2011 Emergency Awareness

be cool: know the rules!

Policeman Tom wants you to stay safe and obey the rules! Fill in the blanks with words from the list and remember: BE COOL AND KNOW THE RULES! 1. Stay away from __________________, don’t talk to __________________!

2. Remember the adults you __________________, check with them first you __________________!

3. It’s okay to __________________, then go run and __________________!

4. It’s safer with __________________, your buddy and __________________!

5. There’s nothing to __________________, just walk __________________!

6. Walk where it’s __________________, you’ll get home all __________________!

7. Don’t get in the __________________, run fast and run __________________!

8. Don’t lose your __________________, remember the __________________!

WORD BANK: far strangers bright away you trust

2011 Emergency Awareness

car say two tell right danger

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yell must rules cool

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Search and Rescue F E R R U M S E A R C H A S P A B O L O R E S T A C I

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Help fireman Dan find his missing tools that he uses to respond to a disaster! Words can be down, across, or diagonal.

Words to look for: rope boots canine boats raingear flashlight map saw axe mask helmet search glasses water radio gloves BONUS: disaster search www.teex.org

rescue prepare 7

2011 Emergency Awareness

Family Preparedness chiLdren & disasters

Disasters may strike quickly and without warning. These events can be frightening for adults, but they are traumatic for children if they don’t know what to do. Children depend on daily routines. When emergencies or disasters interrupt this routine, children may become anxious. It is important to give children guidance that will help them reduce their fears.

In a disaster, they’ll look to you and other adults for help. How you react to an emergency gives them clues on how to act. If you seem overcome with a sense of loss, a child may feel their losses more strongly.

Be aware that after a disaster, children are most afraid that: • The event will happen again.

• Someone will be injured or killed.

• They will be separated from the family.

protect your property

Having children participate in the family’s recovery activities will help them feel that their life will return to “normal.” Your response during this time may have a lasting impact. prepare For disaster Create a Family Disaster Plan and practice it so that everyone will remember what to do when a disaster occurs.

Teach your child how to recognize danger signals. It is important they understand what smoke detectors, fire alarms and community warning systems (horns, sirens) sound like.

The following steps can help you reduce the physical destruction to your property if you were to be hit with a disaster. These steps can reduce your insurance costs, too.

you’ll receive a fast, fair payment from your insurance company for your losses.

• Install smoke detectors to warn of an apartment or home fire.

• Provide documentation for tax deductions you claim for your losses.

• Cover windows, turn off utilities, or move possessions to a safer location if you have adequate warning of something like a hurricane or flood.

Explain how to call for help.

Teach your child how and when to call for help. Even very young children can be taught how and when to call for emergency assistance.

conduct a househoLd inventory Inventory your household possessions by making a list of everything you own. This will help to:

Children should memorize their family name, address and phone number. They should know where to meet in case of an emergency.

• Prove the value of what you owned if those possessions are damaged or destroyed.

• Make it more likely

• They will be left alone.

Once you have completed your inventory, leave a copy with relatives or friends, or in a safe deposit box. use an evacuation boX Buy a lockable, durable “evacuation box” to grab in the event of an emergency. Even a cardboard box would do. Put important papers into the box in sealed, waterproof plastic bags.

Store the box in your home where you can get to it easily. Keep this box with you at all times, don’t leave it in your unattended car.

Animal Preparedness when you evacuate. If you leave, even if you think you may only be gone for a few hours, take your animals.

When you leave, you have no way of knowing how long you’ll be kept out of the area, and you may not be able to go back for your pets. cats You may consider a harness and leash for your cat, in case you have to keep them confined in a cage while you are living away from home. A harness would allow you to safely take them out of the cage for exercise. pets & diasters Your pet should be wearing up-to-date identification at all times.

This includes adding your current cell phone number to your pet’s tag.

when you evacuate, taKe your pets with you The single most important thing you can do to protect your pets is to take them with you

2011 Emergency Awareness

dogs Have a stake out chain for all dogs in your household.

Fences may come down during disasters and it may be necessary to keep your dog tethered until

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repairs can be made. There should also be shelter from elements within reach.

Have a harness for all dogs in your household. If you have to evacuate, dogs can become frightened, pull away from you, and have the collar slip over their head.

A harness will allow you to securely control your dog. disaster suppLy checKList For pets • Food and water for at least five days for each pet, bowls and a manual can opener if you are packing canned pet food.

• Medications and medical records stored in a waterproof container and a first aid kit. A pet first aid book is also good to include.

• Cat litter box, litter, garbage bags to collect all pets’ waste, and litter scoop.

• Leashes, harnesses, and carriers to transport pets safely and to ensure that your pets can’t escape. Carriers should be large enough for the animal to stand comfortably, turn around and lie down.

• Photos and descriptions of your pets to help others identify them in case you and your pets become separated and to prove that they are yours.

• Pet beds and toys, if you can easily take them, to reduce stress.

• Information about your pets’ feeding schedules, medical conditions, behavior problems, and the name and number of your veterinarian in case you have to board your pets or place them in foster care.

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2-1-1Local Resources Your Number For

2-1-1 Texas offers a free, three-digit phone number that connects callers with services in their community that can improve their health and quality of life. “It is the number people should call when they aren’t sure where to turn for help,” says Alison Smith, Director of I&R Services for 2-1-1 Texas/ United Way of the Brazos Valley. “No matter where you live in the Brazos Valley or in Texas, you can call 2-1-1 and find information about resources in your local community. Whether you need help finding food or housing, childcare, crisis counseling or substance abuse treatment, one number is all you need to know.”

2-1-1 Texas is a free, anonymous information and referral line answered by nationally certified specialists 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

These trained experts have access to the most comprehensive database of community-based organizations, government agencies and nonprofits that exist in Texas. Information can be provided in almost any language including Spanish.

“When a person dials 2-1-1, their call is usually answered right in their hometown,” said Smith.

“Specialists are very knowledgeable and familiar with local resources that may be able to provide assistance.”

2-1-1 experts can provide information on hundreds of resources, including:

Special Needs Registry

Information On

• Child Care Information • Elder care services

The Special Needs Registry is used to alert city and county officials to the physical location of individuals with special needs (oxygen, medication dependent, no transportation, physical limitations, etc.) in the event of a disaster/ emergency. Emergency management coordinators will use this information to create phone banks and maps that will give emergency responders a vital tool in assisting individuals in an emergency. An emergency can include anything from a hurricane, flood, fire, or chemical spill, to a power outage, etc.

To register: 1.

Dial 2-1-1 from a touch-tone phone Monday-Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

2.

Select Option 1 for English, 2 for Spanish or 0 for another language.

3.

Select Option 1: Information and Referral for Local Community Services

4.

Tell the specialist you want to register with the Brazos Valley Special Needs Registry

5.

The specialist will ask several questions regarding your situation. Information provided for the Registry is not used for any other purpose than the Special Needs Transportation Registry.

Even if you have registered with the Special Needs Registry before, please call 2-1-1 to update your information. This ensures that our information is current and accurate. You can also call 2-1-1 if you are unsure of whether you need to register; a trained specialist will speak with you and help you decide.

•• If your contact or medical information changes, be sure to call 2-1-1 to update this information. ••

• Emergency shelter, food and clothing • Family counseling services • Housing assistance • Legal help • Prenatal, health and home care • Disaster response and relief 2-1-1 Texas is also included in Governer Rick Perry’s Homeland Security strategy as a tool for sharing information and mobilizing resources during local, statewide or national disasters.

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2011 Emergency Awareness

What is a A hurricane is a type of tropical cyclone, the generic term for a low-pressure system that generally forms in the tropics. A typical cyclone is accompanied by thunderstorms, and in the Northern Hemisphere, a counterclockwise circulation of winds near the earth’s surface.

the home. In extreme wind storms, the force of the wind alone can cause weak places in your home to fail. Experts who study the durability of homes have found four areas that should be checked for weakness— windows, doors, the roof, and if you have one, the garage door.

All Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coastal areas are subject to hurricanes or tropical storms. Parts of the Southwest United States and the Pacific Coast experience heavy rains and floods each year from hurricanes spawned off Mexico. The Atlantic hurricane season lasts from June to November, with the peak season from midAugust to late October.

exterior doors and windows

protecting your home

Plywood shutters that you make yourself, if installed properly, can offer a high level of protection from flying debris during a storm. Plywood shutters can be installed on all types of homes. Measure each window and each door that

During severe thunderstorms or hurricanes, homes may be damaged or destroyed by high winds. Debris flying through the air can break windows and doors, allowing high winds inside

Hurricanes haven’t stopped people from flocking to the coast, and that means more people are in harm’s way each hurricane season. The Census Bureau found that South Carolina’s coastal population grew than 475,000 people since 1960.

Exterior walls, doors, and windows are the protective shell of your home. If your home’s protective shell is broken, high winds can enter and put pressure on your roof and walls, causing damage. You can protect your home by strengthening the doors and windows. plywood storm shutters

SOURCE: INDIA COSTAL SERVICE CENTER HISTORICAL HURRICANE TRACKS: 1851 TO 2008

has glass, and add 8 inches to both the height and width to provide a 4-inch overlap on each side of the

HURRiCaNE TERMS TROPICAL DEPRESSION An organized system of clouds and thunderstorms with a defined surface circulation and maximum sustained winds of 38 MPH (33 knots) or less.

Sustained winds are defined as one-minute average wind measured at about 33 ft (10 meters) above the surface.

TROPICAL STORM An organized system of strong thunderstorms with a defined surface circulation and maximum sustained winds of 39–73 MPH (34–63 knots).

HURRICANE An intense tropical weather system of strong thunderstorms with a welldefined surface circulation and maximum sustained winds of 74 MPH (64 knots) or higher.

STORM SURGE A dome of water pushed onshore by hurricane and tropical storm winds.

Storm surges can reach 25 feet high and be 50–1000 miles wide.

STORM TIDE A combination of storm surge and the normal tide (i.e. a 15-foot storm surge combined with a 2-foot normal high tide over the mean sea level created a 17-foot storm tide).

window or door. Sheets of plywood are generally 4 feet by 8 feet. Tell your local building supply retailer the size and number of openings you need to cover to determine how many sheets of plywood to buy.

evacuate, go to your windsafe room.

evacuation

• Close all interior doors – secure and brace external doors.

You should evacuate under the following conditions: If you are directed by local authorities to do so. Be sure to follow their instructions.

• If you live in a mobile home or temporary structure – such shelters are particularly hazardous during hurricanes no matter how well fastened to the ground.

• If you live in a high-rise building – hurricane winds are stronger at higher elevations.

If you do not have one, follow these guidelines: • Stay indoors during the hurricane and away from window and glass doors.

• Keep curtains and blinds closed. Do not be fooled if there is a lull; it could be the eye of the storm – winds will pick up again.

• Take refuge in a small interior room, closet, or hallway on the lowest level.

• Lie on the floor under a table or another sturdy object.

• If you live on the coast, on a floodplain, near a river, or on an inland waterway.

• If you feel you are in danger.

• If you are unable to

2011 Emergency Awareness

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Fire

Each year, more than 4,000 Americans die and more than 25,000 are injured in fires, many of which could be prevented.

To protect yourself, it is important to understand the basic characteristics of fire. Fire spreads quickly; there is no time to gather valuables or make a phone call. In just two minutes, a fire can become life-threatening. In five minutes, a residence can be engulfed in flames.

Heat and smoke from fire can be more dangerous than the flames.

Inhaling the super-hot air can sear your lungs. Fire produces poisonous gases that make you disoriented and drowsy. Instead of being awakened by a fire, you may fall into a deeper sleep. Asphyxiation is the leading cause of fire deaths, exceeding burns by a three-to-one ratio. beFore a Fire The following are things you can do to protect yourself, your family,

gratings on windows have a fire safety-opening feature so they can be easily opened from the inside.

and your property in the event of a fire: smoKe aLarms • Install smoke alarms. Properly working smoke alarms decrease your chances of dying in a fire by half.

• Place smoke alarms on every level of your residence. Place them outside bedrooms on the ceiling or high on the wall (4 to 12 inches from ceiling), at the top of open stairways, or at the bottom of enclosed stairs and near (but not in) the kitchen.

• Test and clean smoke alarms once a month and replace batteries at least once a year. Replace smoke alarms once every 10 years. escaping the Fire • Review escape routes with your family. Practice escaping from each room. If you cannot escape, hang a white or light-colored sheet outside the window, alerting fire fighters to your presence.

• Make sure windows are not nailed or painted shut. Make sure security

• Consider escape ladders if your residence has more than one level, and ensure that burglar bars and other antitheft mechanisms that block outside window entry are easily opened from the inside.

• Teach family members to stay low to the floor (where the air is safer in a fire) when escaping from a fire.

• Clean out storage areas. Do not let trash, such as old newspapers and magazines, accumulate. during a Fire If your clothes catch on fire, you should: Stop, drop, and roll - until the fire is extinguished. Running only makes the fire burn faster.

To escape a fire, you should: • Check closed doors for heat before

you open them. Use the back of your hand to feel the top of the door, the doorknob, and the crack between the door and door-frame before you open it. Never use the palm of your hand or fingers to test for heat - burning those areas could impair your ability to escape a fire (i.e., ladders and crawling).

• Crawl low under any smoke to your exit - heavy smoke and poisonous gases collect first along the ceiling.

• Close doors behind you as you escape to delay the spread of the fire.

• Stay out once you are safely out.

Do not re-enter. Call 9-1-1.

Being Ready starts with you! Getting an Emergency Supply Kit and being informed about emergencies is a community responsibility. Learn more about being prepared: Recommended Items to Include in a Basic Emergency Supply Kit:

❑ A Time to Remember.

A Time to Prepare.

❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑

Emergency Supply List

❑ ❑ ❑ ❑

Through its Ready Campai

Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both Flashlight and extra batteries First aid kit Whistle to signal for help Dust mask, to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities

the U.S. Department of Homeland S educates and empowers Americans some simple steps to prepare for an respond to potential emergencies, i natural disasters and terrorist attack asks individuals to do three key thin an emergency supply kit, make a fa emergency plan, and be informed a different types of emergencies that occur and their appropriate respons

All Americans should have some ba supplies on hand in order to survive least three days if an emergency oc Following is a listing of some basic every emergency supply kit should However, it is important that individu review this list and consider where and the unique needs of their family to create an emergency supply kit t meet these needs. Individuals shoul consider having at least two emerge supply kits, one full kit at home and portable kits in their workplace, veh other places they spend time.

Can opener for food (if kit contains canned food) Local maps

U.S. Department of Homeland S Washington, DC

Register and take our no-cost, online courses at teexwmdcampus.com.

Recommended Recommended courses: courses: AWR-160 AWR-160 -- Terrorism Terrorism Awareness Awareness for for Emergency Emergency Responders, Responders, AWR-173 AWR-173 -Information -Information Security Security Basics Basics and and AWR-175 AWR-175 -- Information Information Security Security for for Everyone Everyone

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2011 Emergency Awareness

Tornadoes Tornadoes are nature’s most violent storms. Spawned from powerful thunderstorms, tornadoes can cause fatalities and devastate a neighborhood in seconds. A tornado appears as a rotating, funnel-shaped cloud that extends from a thunderstorm to the ground with whirling winds that can reach 300 miles per hour. Damage paths can be in excess of one mile wide and 50 miles long. what are the signs of an approaching tornado?

Most tornadoes develop from an intense thunderstorm or area where two or more weather patterns (or fronts) collide. Weather forecasters watch these systems carefully and issue watches and warnings when conditions are favorable.

Individuals must take precaution when storms arise and look for signs of tornadic activity, especially at night when storm circulation patterns are not visible. Following is a list of some common tornado indicators.

• Strong, persistent rotation in the cloud base.

• Whirling dust and debris on the ground under a cloud base–tornadoes sometimes have no funnels.

• Hail or heavy rain followed by dead calm or a fast, intense wind shift.

Many tornadoes are wrapped in heavy precipitation and cannot be seen.

• Loud, continuous roar or rumble, much like the sound of an approaching freight train.

• At night, small, bright, blue-green to white flashes at ground level near a thunderstorm. These mean power lines are being snapped by very strong winds, maybe a tornado.

• At night, persistent lowering from the cloud base, illuminated or silhouetted by lightning–especially if it is on the ground or there is a blue-green-white power flash underneath.

and where to go automatically and without panic. Another good tip is to choose a friend or family member in another part of town or elsewhere to be a “contact person” that will be called by everyone should the family become separated.

In a house with no basement, a dorm, or an apartment …

Avoid windows. Go to the lowest floor, small center room (like a bathroom or closet), under a stairwell, or in an interior hallway with no windows. Crouch as low as possible to the floor, facing down; and cover your head with your hands.

Getting into a bath tub with a couch cushion over you gives you protection on all sides, as well as an extra anchor to the foundation. Even in an interior room, you should cover yourself with some sort of thick padding (mattress, blankets, etc.) to protect against flying glass and falling debris in case the roof and ceiling fall.

In a mobile home … Get out! Even if your home is tied down, you are probably safer outside, even if the only alternative is to seek shelter out in the open. Most tornadoes can even destroy tied-down mobile homes; and it is best not to play the low odds that yours will make it. If your community has a tornado shelter, go there fast. If there is a sturdy permanent building within easy running distance, seek shelter there.

Otherwise, lie flat on low ground away from your home, protecting your head.

If possible, use open ground away from trees and cars, which can be blown onto you.

COMMON MYTHS

Myth 1: “An underpass is a safe place to be in case of a tornado.”

Stopping under a bridge to take shelter from a tornado is very dangerous. Deadly flying debris can be blasted into the spaces between the bridge and grade, impelling any people hiding there. People may be blown out from under the bridge and possibly up the tornado itself. The bridge may collapse, peel apart, or create large flying objects.

Myth 2: “You should make sure to open all the windows in the house to equalize pressure.”

Opening the windows is useless, a waste of precious time, and very dangerous. You may be injured by flying glass trying to do it. If the tornado hits your home, it will blast the windows anyway.

Myth 3: “Mobile home parks attract tornadoes.”

It may seem that way, considering most tornado deaths occur in mobile homes and the most graphic damage comes from mobile home parks. However, the reason that mobile homes are more likely to experience damage is the home’s construction. A strong straight-line wind or small-sized tornado can easily blow a mobile home off its foundation, even one that’s tied down.

Myth 4: “I can outrun an approaching tornado.”

Most tornado deaths occur in cars and mobile homes.

Cars are easily tossed and destroyed. There’s no way to know the speed of an approaching tornado, and since tornadoes change directions, you cannot predict their paths. Your get-away speed may also be affected by traffic, road obstructions, and weather. The best option is to get as far away from the car as possible, find a sturdy building or lay face down in a low lying ditch with your hands and arms over your head.

where should i seek shelter?

The best place to be during a tornado is a storm shelter specifically designed for that use located within the basement or outside the home. Many companies manufacture pre-fabricated shelters constructed of concrete, fiberglass or steel, that are installed below ground, and that blends in with home landscaping. Whatever the shelter, your entire family should know where to go and what precautions to take in case of a tornado. Conduct annual emergency drills to ensure that everyone remembers what to do

2011 Emergency Awareness

Source:The Weather Channel

Myth 5: “Hail always comes before a tornado.”

Rain, wind, lightning, and hail vary from storm to storm, from one hour to the next, and even with the direction the storm is moving with respect to the observer. While large hail can indicate the presence of an unusually dangerous thunderstorm, and can happen before a tornado, hail is not a reliable predictor of a tornado threat.

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Thunderstorms and Lightening All thunderstorms are dangerous.

Every thunderstorm produces lightning. In the United States, an average of 300 people are injured and 80 people are killed each year by lightning. Although most lightning victims survive, people struck by lightning often report a variety of long-term, debilitating symptoms. Other associated dangers of thunderstorms include tornadoes, strong winds, hail, and flash flooding.

Facts About Thunderstorms • They may occur singly, in clusters, or in lines.

• Some of the most severe occur when a single thunderstorm affects one location for an extended time.

• Thunderstorms typically produce heavy rain for a brief period, anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour.

• Warm, humid conditions are highly favorable for thunderstorm development.

Facts About Lightning • Lightning’s unpredictability increases the risk to individuals and property.

• Lightning often strikes outside of heavy rain and may occur as far as 10 miles away from any rainfall.

• Most lightning deaths and injuries occur when people are caught outdoors in the summer months during the afternoon and evening.

• Your chances of being struck by lightning are estimated to be 1 in 600,000, but could be reduced

even further by following safety precautions.

• Lightning strike victims carry no electrical charge and should be attended to immediately.

Before a Thunderstorm To prepare for a thunderstorm, you should do the following: • Remove dead or rotting trees and branches that could fall and cause injury or damage during a severe thunderstorm.

• Remember the 30/30 lightning safety rule: Go indoors if, after seeing lightning, you cannot count to 30 before hearing thunder. Stay indoors for 30 minutes after hearing the last clap of thunder.

During a Thunderstorm

Guidelines for personal safety in a thunderstorm watch:

• If you are in an open area, got to a low place such as a valley or ravine.

Be alert for flash floods.

• Postpone outdoor activities.

• If you are on open water, get to land and find shelter immediately.

Source:The Weather Channel

• Get inside a home, building, or hard top automobile (not a convertible).

• If you are anywhere and you feel your hair stand on end – which indicates lightning is about to strike – squat low to the ground on the balls of your feet. Place your hands over your ears and your head between your knees. Make yourself the smallest possible target and minimize contact with the ground.

Do not lie flat on the ground.

• Remember, rubber-soled shoes and rubber tires provide NO protection from lightning. However, the steel frame of a hard-topped vehicle provides increased protection if you are not touching metal.

• Secure outdoor objects that could blow away or cause damage.

• Use a NOAA Weather Radio or listen to a local radio or television station. Local authorities will provide you with the best information for your particular situation.

• Close windows and secure outside doors. Avoid showering or bathing.

Plumbing and bathroom fixtures can conduct electricity.

Thunderstorms and Lightning Terms

• Use a corded telephone only for emergencies. Cordless and cellular telephones are safe to use.

Severe Thunderstorm Watch

thunderstorms are likely to occur.

Watch the sky and stay tuned the radio, or television for information.

Severe Thunderstorm WarninG Issued when severe weather has been reported by spotters or indicated by radar. Warnings indicate imminent danger to life and property to those in the path of the storm.

Medical Aid to a Lightning Victim • Breathing - if breathing has stopped, begin mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

• Heartbeat - if the heart has stopped, administer CPR. • Pulse - if the victim has a pulse and is breathing, look for other possible injuries. Check for burns where the lightning entered and left the body.

Also be alert for nervous system damage, broken bones, and loss of hearing and eyesight.

Tells you when and where severe

Hail • Strong rising currents of air within a storm, called updrafts, carry water droplets to a height where freezing occurs.

• Ice particles grow in size, becoming too heavy to be supported by the updraft, and fall to the ground.

• Hail causes more than $1 billion in damage to property and crops each year.

• Large stones fall at speeds faster than 100 mph and cause more than $1 billion in crop and property damage each year.

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2011 Emergency Awareness

Floods

Floods are one of the most common hazards in the United States. Some floods develop slowly, sometimes over a period of days. Flash floods can develop quickly, sometimes in just a few minutes and without any visible signs of rain. Flash floods often carry rocks, mud, and other debris and can sweep away most things in its path. Overland flooding occurs outside a defined river or stream, such as when a levee is breached, but still can be destructive. Flooding can also occur when a dam breaks, producing effects similar to flash floods.

Be aware of flood hazards no matter where you live. Even very small streams, gullies, creeks, culverts, dry streambeds, or low-lying ground that appear harmless in dry weather can flood. beFore a FLood To prepare for a flood, you should: • Avoid building in a floodplain unless you elevate and reinforce your home.

• Elevate the furnace, water heater, and electric panel if susceptible to flooding.

• Install “check valves” in sewer traps to prevent floodwater from backing up into the drains of your home.

• Construct barriers (levees, beams, floodwalls) to stop floodwater from entering the building.

• Seal walls in basements with waterproofing compounds to avoid seepage. during a FLood

• Be aware that flash flooding can occur. If there is any possibility of a flash flood, move immediately to higher ground. Do not wait for instructions to move.

• Be aware of streams, drainage channels, and other areas known to flood suddenly. Flash floods can occur in these areas with or without such typical warnings as rain clouds or heavy rain.

If you must prepare to evacuate, you should do the following: • Secure your home. If you have time, bring in outdoor furniture.

Move essential items to an upper floor.

• Turn off utilities at the main switches or valves if instructed to do so. Disconnect electrical appliances.

Do not touch electrical equipment if you are wet or standing in water.

If you have to leave your home, remember these evacuation tips: • Do not walk through moving water. Six inches of moving water can make you fall. If you have to walk in water, walk where the water is not moving. Use a stick to check the firmness of the ground in front of you.

• Do not drive into flooded areas.

If floodwaters rise around your car, abandon the car and move to higher ground if you can do so safely.

You and the vehicle can be quickly swept away. The rule is simple: If you cannot see the road or its line markings, do not drive through the water.

If a flood is likely in your area, you should:

FLOOD:

In addition to the high frequency of excessive rainfall events, the impacts of flooding may increase as population and urban development grows. driving FLood Facts Points to remember when driving in flood conditions: • Six inches of water will reach the bottom of most passenger cars, causing loss of control and possible stalling.

• As little as one foot of water can move most cars off the road.

• Most flood-related deaths occur at night, and are vehicular.

• Urban and small stream flash flood often occur in less than one hour.

• Tropical cyclones pose significant risk well inland due to fresh water flooding. aFter a FLood The following are guidelines for the period following a flood:

• Avoid floodwaters; water may be contaminated by oil, gasoline, or raw sewage. Water may also be electrically charged from underground or downed power lines.

• Avoid moving water.

• Be aware of areas where floodwaters have receded. Roads may have weakened and could collapse under the weight of a car.

• Stay away from downed power lines, and report them to the power company.

• Return home only when authorities indicate it is safe.

• Stay out of any building if it is surrounded by floodwaters.

• Use extreme caution when entering buildings; there may be hidden damage, particularly in foundations.

• Service damaged septic tanks, cesspools, pits, and leaching systems as soon as possible.

• Clean and disinfect everything that got wet. Mud left from floodwater can contain sewage and chemicals.

• Listen for news reports to learn whether the community’s water supply is safe to drink.

Flood Risk

Know Your Terms

(as of March 14, 2008)

Flood watch: Flooding is possible. Tune in to NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio, or television for information.

Flash Flood watch: Flash flooding is possible. Be prepared to move to higher ground; listen to NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio, or television for information.

Flood warning: Flooding is occurring or will occur soon; if advised to evacuate, do so immediately.

Above Average Average Below Average

Flash Flood warning: A flash flood is occurring; seek higher ground on foot immediately 2011 Emergency Awareness

14

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What To Do With Your

LInivA Heusr tock ric ane

It is recognized that any emergency situation that threatens humans also threatens both domestic and wild animals. It may be necessary to provide water, shelter, food, and medical treatment for pets, livestock, and wildlife affected during an emergency situation. hurricane evacuations - disaster preparedness For horses and LivestocK When sheltering operations are begun, Brazos County Emergency Management is asking evacuees to go to Veterans Park off Harvey Road in College Station where evacuees will be given shelter assignments and then directed to an appropriate facility for the animals.

If you are evacuating to the Brazos County area and you are bringing horses and/or other livestock, please bring the following: • proof of Coggins tests • vaccination and health records • identification photographs • any other vital information It is recommended that those records be put in a watertight envelope. Keep the papers close so they can be reached quickly.

There will be a charge to house horses in Brazos County - $15/day per horse and an additional $7 for the first day for 1 bag of shavings. Additional bags will be available for purchase if desired at the $7 per bag price. This fee is being charged to defray costs incurred by the county for sheltering horses. There is no charge anticipated at this time for livestock, other than horses.

Animals will be triaged upon arrival and assessed to determine if any medical assistance is needed.

Be sure to have a supply of food, hay, and medications for your animals. A list of suppliers can be made available if these items need to be purchased during your stay here. Water will be provided at no cost.

Each horse should have a halter marked with the horse’s name, owner’s name, owner’s telephone information, including an emergency telephone number where someone can be reached.

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For more information, visit www.bcdem.org. aFter the hurricane Hurricanes can put livestock in immediate danger of drowning from flooding caused by heavy rains or storm surges in low-lying areas.

In addition, flying debris or collapsing buildings can injure animals. Downed power lines can present electrocution hazards. After the hurricane, livestock seeking higher ground may wander onto roadways, creating additional hazards for themselves and motorists. Check perimeter fences along roadways or downed trees or missing water gaps.

As soon as it is safe, livestock owners should check on the condition of their animals. Be prepared to take feed, hay, water, basic livestock first aid supplies, and wire cutters and other tools. As soon as possible, move the animals out of any flooded areas and to dry or covered locations.

Check for injuries and render first aid as needed. Serious injuries will require veterinary attention.

Be ready to provide some form of aid until the vet can arrive.

Remember that veterinarians may have damage to their homes and buildings or livestock too, or they may have more urgent cases to handle first.

Offer to render any aid suggested. Don’t forget to tell exactly where the animals are located or mention any road closures or bridges along the way.

Give stressed animals clean feed or hay and water.

Provide animals that have not had access to feed for one or more days a little feed the first few days.

Gradually increase it over a week to full feed. Animals should

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be allowed access to clean hay even if it is wet.

Do not give wet or moldy feed to any animal.

Wet hay, as long as it is not moldy, is good filler.

Dry feed will be best for all classes of livestock.

Remember to feed in moderation. If you need hay, contact your local Texas AgriLife Extension county agent’s office for a list of local suppliers.

Or you can contact the Texas Department of Agriculture Hay Hot Line at 1-877-429-1998.

2011 Emergency Awareness

Hazardous Materials substances are most often released as a result of transportation accidents or because of chemical accidents in plants. what to do during a haZardous materiaLs incident

Chemicals are found everywhere and are routinely stored in your home. They purify drinking water, simplify household chores and increase crop production. But chemicals also can be hazardous to humans or the environment if used or released improperly.

Hazardous materials in various forms can cause death, serious injury, and long-lasting health effects. These products are also shipped daily on the nation’s highways, railroads, waterways, and pipelines.

Hazardous materials come in the form of explosives, flammable and combustible substances, poisons, and radioactive materials. These

You should stay away from the area to minimize the risk of contamination.

Remember that some toxic chemicals are odorless. iF you are asKed to evacuate: • Do so immediately using routes recommended by authorities.

• Stay tuned to a radio or television for information on evacuation routes, temporary shelters, and procedures.

• If you have time, minimize contamination in the house by closing all windows, shutting all vents, and turning off attic fans.

with disabilities. iF you are caught outside: • Stay upstream, uphill or upwind! In general, try to go at least one-half mile (usually 8-10 city blocks) from the danger area. Move away from the accident scene and help keep others away.

• Do not walk into or touch any spilled liquids, airborne mists, or condensed solid chemical deposits.

Try not to inhale gases, fumes and smoke. If possible, cover mouth with a cloth while leaving the area.

• Stay away from accident victims until the hazardous material has been identified. iF you are in a vehicLe: • Stop and seek shelter in a permanent building. If you must remain in your car, keep car windows and vents closed and shut off the air conditioner and heater.

outside air is drawn into the building.

If this is not possible, ventilation systems should be turned off.

• Close and lock all exterior doors and windows. Close vents, fireplace dampers, and as many interior doors as possible.

• Go into the pre-selected shelter room. This room should be above ground and have the fewest openings to the outside.

• Seal gaps under doorways and windows with wet towels or plastic sheeting and duct tape.

• If gas or vapors could have entered the building, take shallow breaths through a cloth or towel. Avoid eating or drinking any food or water that may be contaminated.

iF you are reQuested to stay indoors:

• Take pre-assembled disaster supplies.

• Bring pets inside.

CAUTION

• Turn off air conditioners and ventilation systems.In large buildings, set ventilation systems to 100 percent recirculation so that no

• Remember to help neighbors who may require special assistance – infants, elderly people and people

Please visit www.teexwmdcampus.com.

www.

C11.5427.08

2011 Emergency Awareness

16

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Disaster Facts

by the numbers:

hurricane

want a shake with that?

did you know that an earthquake measuring 4.4 on the richter scale hit rusk, texas in 1964?

tornado FUJITA INTENSITY SCALE

F0: F5 T

ORNAD on april 12, 1927 O POUNDS TE a power XAS! near ro ckspring ful torna s, texas do hit killing 7 4 people .

monster storms since 1900 month September May August September April May June September September May August April August August May September September

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name Galveston Hurricane Texas Tornado Outbreak Galveston Hurricane Florida Keys Hurricane The Rocksprings Tornado Waco Tornado Outbreak Hurricane Audrey Hurricane Carla Hurricane Beulah The Lubbock Tornado Hurricane Celia Red River Valley Tornado Outbreak Hurricane Allen Hurricane Alicia The Saragosa Tornado Hurricane Rita Hurricane Ike

Location Galveston, TX Goliad, TX Eastern Texas to Louisiana Texas to Florida Keys Rocksprings, TX Central United States Texas to Alabama Texas Coast Caribbean, Mexico to Texas Lubbock, TX Caribbean to Texas Wichita Falls, TX Rio Grande Valley near Brownsville Galveston and Houston, TX Reeves County,TX Texas-Louisiana Border Galveston, TX

111-130 MPH

156+ MPH

n, in septem a iv r 90 e n a ic rr hu asured ove e m t a th s e av spawned w ! lf of mexico u g e th in t fee

year 1900 1902 1915 1919 1927 1953 1957 1961 1967 1970 1970 1979 1980 1983 1987 2005 2008

96-110 MPH

131-155 MPH

SURED! VER MEA E S E V A W ber 2004, BIGGEST

RARE

74-95 MPH

category Cat. 4 F4 Cat. 4 Cat. 4 F5 N/A N/A N/A N/A F5 Cat. 3 Cat. 4 Cat. 5 Cat. 3 F4 Cat. 3 Cat. 4

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deaths 10,000 114 275-400 600 74 114 419 43 58 26 20 58 274 21 30 111 195

F1:

Gale tornado (40-72 mph); light damage.

Some damage to chimneys; break branches off trees; push over shallow-rooted trees; damage to sign boards.

Moderate tornado (73-112 mph); moderate damage. The lower limit is the beginning of hurricane wind speed; peel surface off roofs; mobile homes pushed off foundations or overturned; moving autos pushed off the roads.

F2:

Significant tornado (113-157 mph); considerable damage. roofs torn off frame houses; mobile homes demolished; boxcars pushed over; large trees snapped or uprooted; light-object missiles generated.

F3:

Severe tornado (158-206 mph); Severe damage. Roofs and some walls torn off wellconstructed houses; trains overturned; most trees in forest uprooted; heavy cars lifted off ground and thrown.

F4: F5:

Devastating tornado (207-260 mph); Devastating damage. Well-constructed houses leveled; structure with weak foundation blown off some distance; cars thrown and large missiles generated.

Incredible tornado (261-318 mph); Incredible damage. Strong frame houses lifted off foundations and carried considerable distance to disintegrate; automobile sized missiles fly through the air in excess of 100 yards; trees debarked; incredible phenomena will occur.

2011 Emergency Awareness